DoNotAlter?
Dolores Brisson
In the late seventies a new episode began in the saga
of DNA mobility. Scientists learned how to join at will genes from
cells of widely different origins and to introduce the combined molecules
into yet another set of different cells. Humans' ability to produce
new gene combinations freed DNA from the constraints imposed by nature
and placed it in the hands of scientists. DNA the master had been
made slave — an awesome event that the human imagination could
hardly cope with. Like any event of possibly enormous significance,
it has generated anxiety and profound emotional reactions, ranging
from exhilaration to fear. Is this the beginning of a new stage of
life? (Design 127)
Controversies surrounding genetic engineering mount
as science ‘slices' through one barrier after another. Successful
animal cloning and of late, animal clones carrying human genes, are
key issues. What is the motive behind genetic engineering? What impact
will it have on mankind and on all life? No longer having to wait
for nature to takes its course, what are the consequences of interfering
with natural laws and natural evolution? The possibility of human
clones haunts the minds of an irresolute world. Would human clones
be devoid of soul and spirit? Surely life is more than the simple
expression of instructions regulated by genes.
Genetic research is in its early stages; leading engineers
have no reassuring answers and they admit it. Their experiments are
far from complete. In one sense, biological researchers are courageous
trail blazers. Had man cowardly dismissed new endeavours in the past
for fear of uncertainties and unknowns, he would not have progressed.
As life unfolds humanity learns to traverse diverse barriers, one
after another, and it will continue to do so. Why is mankind so often
faced with adversities? Because nature is dual; there is a positive
and negative side to all of manifestation. Due to the intrinsic nature
of genetics, man can expect a tower of challenges; recombinant DNA
is no small matter.
The DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) of a cell is the material
in which the genetic instructions of all living things are embodied;
it is the source and master of all heredity — the thread of life.
In genetic engineering, fragments of cloned DNA can be fused together
in any order and orientation the scientist wishes so as to build new
DNA sequences. A ‘library' of various segments is established
— from viruses to human chromosomes. Cloning is a process of
nuclear transfer using a micro-manipulation technique. A clone is
"a group of identical cells or organisms that are descended from
a common ancestor through asexual reproduction" (Cloning 115).
In asexual reproduction, the offspring comes from only one parent
so all cells in the clone contain the same genetic material as the
parent. They are copies of the original — an extension of a single
individual. In successful animal cloning, researchers extract mammary
cells from an adult, remove the nucleus containing the genetic material
from another animal's unfertilized egg, and fuse the mammary cell
(with its own DNA) to that egg with electricity which gives it the
impetus to start to grow into an embryo. This ‘growing' embryo
is transplanted into the uterus of another animal — a surrogate
mother. The end result is an animal that has the same genetic information
as the animal that provided the mammary cell. What purpose does all
this time, money and energy serve?
What we can discern as the motive is the benefit to
mankind, i.e. through medicine and health. Peering into obscure horizons,
optimism prevails among the scientific community. They see the benefits
of cloning and amplifying DNA as numerous: the production of new drugs
and/or a better supply of existing drugs; xenotransplantation —
i.e. transplanting animal organs into humans; creating transgenic
animals carrying human genes of therapeutic value; improvement of
crops and subsequent alteration of the food chain; and treatment of
disease and gene defects. These are a few items of an interminable
list that augments daily. From germ cell therapy to agriculture, no
department in nature remains undisturbed. In one example, "Saskatchewan
is growing canola with human genes, enabling the plant to produce
human protein" (Genetic 23). But are these alterations beneficial?
There are risks involved. What control factor can ensure
it will not bring about other ills? How many individuals will suffer
damage? Can science undo altered genes? In June 1997, on CNN, Larry
King interviewed leading biologist Dr. Ian Wilmut, Dolly's (the sheep)
successful creator. Dr. Wilmut's motive is that he believes this is
for the greater good. Stating the cloning issue is mainly for study
purposes, he hopes to develop precise genetic modifications in cells
with selected precise changes to treat genetic diseases and produce
health care products. During the interview, the question arose: if
transplanting an animal organ into our body meant adding 20 years
to our life, how many of us would allow it? Probably many of us! Good
intentions notwithstanding, are we not infringing upon the delicate
ecological balance in nature and natural laws?
Eliphas Levi, when commenting on natural laws, writes:
Man ought to direct and correct nature, but he must never violate
her laws. If man, by combating nature, attempts to become god in opposition
to God, he falls lower than the brute and deserves to be called a
demon. . . . Man is exactly worth as much as he makes himself worth.
("Nature" 44-45)
To what extent have we learned to live in harmony with Nature and
in conformity with the Law of Evolution? Physical nature moves forward
with her great combination of physical forces, ever creeping toward
perfection. Can the mind of man keep still long enough to learn how
to follow Nature? "Every ideal, not in accordance with nature,
is a monstrosity" claims Levi ("Thoughts" 46). Let
us take heed that a carte blanche for ‘shuffling' genes, especially
between kingdoms, for whatever purpose, does not end in long-term
disastrous results. Is man utilizing the tool of wisdom whilst he
genetically manipulates life? Is this magnificent technological advancement
premature to or in line with our ability to discern between good and
bad?
Proper human moral and ethical development is a prerequisite
if genetic engineering is to be advantageous. Not all scientists have
the ethical and moral values essential to working with this ‘double-edged
sword'. As some see moral standards as relative, others fear this
new technology will get out of hand. Not all scientists are cut from
the same moral cloth:
There is a gradient in the standard of morality to be applied to various
conditions of men, according to their education, training, and, more
particularly, the sphere of life in which they move. . . . [T]here
is in man the consciousness of good and evil which is more or less
acute according to the degree in which the active reason opposes his
natural instincts. To the extent that this consciousness of good and
evil has awakened in man, to that extent moral responsibility may
be predicated of him. ("Question" 29-30)
One's own moral standard may not be acceptable to others, nor does
popularity make a view correct. As stated by Levi, "[a] multitude
of fools cannot make folly reasonable, nor does an error become venerable
on account of its being old" ("Thoughts" 46).
People from all walks of life are aware that asexual
human cloning could be occurring at this very minute somewhere on
the planet, regardless of cloning regulations in any country. Cloning
for the wrong motive will or will not occur, depending on the degree
of the engineer's moral development. For most, human cloning is illogical;
it serves no purpose; it may be possible to produce a physical genetic
copy, but it is impossible to reproduce a personality. On ‘Nature
Magazine', a program aired on CNN on February 25, 1997, a member of
the National Advisory Board on Ethics and Reproduction alluded to
this. Karen Rothenberg questioned what constituted the real human
being and what maintains its dignity, making reference to soul. What
of soul and spirit? Life cannot be defined as a chemical reaction,
common elements combining to form molecules — a multiplication
of the DNA. This definition is too simple; it leaves one feeling virus-like
and destitute. Soul and spirit are the most important constituents
of man. The lack of the objective existence of soul or spirit under
the cognizance of any exact law of science does not eradicate it.
The East believes that a soul's attraction towards a particular parent
or family, and the formation of a suitable physical body to express
and develop innate tendencies, take place according to the karma generated
by it in its past incarnations. The germinating foetus in the womb
of a woman through natural reproduction requires its life-giving principle,
then a soul, which is ready to commence its sojourn on earth. Knowing
their greatest responsibility, natural parents help their child develop
Mind. In the case of a cloned child, who is the father? From whence
comes the male element, Spirit? The whole scenario seems wrong. In
its visible aspect, nature has provided DNA with the code of life.
It is the material link between generations and contains the genetic
information that specifies hereditary characteristics. In the case
of cloning and recombinant DNA, Man in essence, is tampering with
the natural course of evolution, forever affecting future generations.
Natural sexual reproduction (23 chromosomes from the mother and 23
from the father) has been occurring for millions of years. John Gribbin
writes:
So the success of sexual reproduction as a means of mixing genetic
material, ensuring sufficient variability in a population to cope,
by adapting, to a changing environment, led directly to the evolution
of two sexes and to the pattern in which there are roughly equal numbers
of males and females. (Genesis 243)
Apart from natural reproduction, Nature has not relegated the powers
of creation to mankind, at least not at this stage of our evolution.
What are the real implications of asexual reproduction?
Even the cloning of animals has repercussions. The assumption
that animals have no soul of any kind is based upon insecure foundations.
Neither animal nor man can prove this. Man must recognize that the
powers that be have not given him authority over the life and death
of animals lower than himself, nor the right to torture them. Many
believe that animals exist solely for our own benefit, creatures to
be exploited without question as if we have dominion over them (instead
of being their guardians). We must develop a sense of charity towards
them. We want the best science has to offer so that we may improve
our health or prolong our life; the success of humanly acceptable
health products is based on animal testing. Current biological research
allows for the invasive creation of genetic diseases in sheep, enabling
the disease to flourish so it may be studied in more detail; it also
allows for better drug testing. To what extent we can exploit the
lower kingdom for our own benefit? Caution is required. Mankind has
a great karmic debt to the animal kingdom. Torture and terrible abuse
have been endlessly endured by these ‘lesser' creatures on our
account. If this new technology is another carte blanche for more
abuse it should be banned; it is working against nature.
How much genetic engineering will continue to slip imperceptibly
into our lives? Will the proposed benefits of genetic engineering
materialize? What will be the real consequences of interfering with
natural evolution? Only time will tell. Future generations will either
reap the benefits or suffer the consequences. On June 22, 1997, at
the G7 Summit meeting in the USA, human cloning was banned. Should
human cloning ever become a reality, of interest would be understanding
the differences between life started with electricity versus the natural
process which Paracelsus calls Ens seminis, Ens proprietatis and the
Mysterium Magnum. On the subject of discernment and our ability to
make proper decisions, this famous alchemist wrote "[o]n this
intimate relationship between the Universe and Man depends the harmony
by which the Infinite becomes intimately connected with the Finite,
the immeasurably great with the small" (Paracelsus 68-69). Man's
gifts of mind and reason are overshadowed by Divine spirit. Due to
this fact, Man in the far distant future will be a wiser being; there
will be no veils masking his perception; reliance on experiment will
be history. But for now we linger in the dark. As authors of the book
on genetic engineering, all we have at best are feeble impressions
of the next page. The future will lend to the ending and the moral
of the story, which might be far beyond anything the human mind can
fathom, be it beneficial or destructive.
Abbreviations of Work Cited
Cloning Hyde, Margaret O., and Lawrence E. Hyde. Cloning
and the New Genetics. Hillside, NJ: Enslow Publishers, Inc., 1984.
Design Dulbecco, Renato. The Design of Life. New Haven and London:
Yale University Press, 1987.
Genesis Gribbin, John. Genesis: The Origins of Man and the Universe.
New York: Delacorte Press/Eleanor Friede, 1981.
Genetic Barczak, Carola. "Genetic Engineering: Look What We're
Having For Dinner." Health Naturally April/May 1997: 22-24.
"Nature" Levi, Eliphas. "Magnetic Irregularities and
Crimes Against Nature." The Prasnottara vol. IV (1894): 44-46.
Paracelsus Hartmann, Franz. The Life of Paracelsus. London: Kegan,
Paul, Trench, Trübner & Co. Ltd., 1887.
"Question" "Question CXIV." The Prasnottara vol.
IV (1894): 27-30.
"Thoughts" Levi, Eliphas. "Stray Thoughts." The
Prasnottara vol. IV (1894): 46-47.